CVE-2017-17255 in AR120-S
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei AR120-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR1200 V200R006C10, V200R006C13, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR1200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR150 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR150-S V200R006C10SPC300, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR160 V200R006C10, V200R006C12, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR200 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR2200 V200R006C10, V200R006C13, V200R006C16PWE, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR2200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR3200 V200R006C10, V200R006C11, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C00, V200R008C10, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR3600 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, AR510 V200R006C10, V200R006C12, V200R006C13, V200R006C15, V200R006C16, V200R006C17, V200R007C00SPC180T, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, DP300 V500R002C00, IPS Module V100R001C10SPC200, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NGFW Module V100R001C10SPC200, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R002C00, V500R002C10, NIP6300 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6600 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6800 V500R001C50, NetEngine16EX V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, RSE6500 V500R002C00, SRG1300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, SRG2300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, SRG3300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, SVN5600 V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SVN5800 V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SVN5800-C V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SeMG9811 V300R001C01, Secospace USG6300 V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, Secospace USG6500 V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, Secospace USG6600 V100R001C00SPC200, V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, V500R001C60, TE30 V100R001C02, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE40 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE50 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE60 V100R001C01, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TP3106 V100R002C00, TP3206 V100R002C00, V100R002C10, USG6000V V500R001C20, USG9500 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, USG9520 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9560 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9580 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, VP9660 V500R002C00, V500R002C10, ViewPoint 8660 V100R008C03, ViewPoint 9030 V100R011C02 have a null pointer dereference vulnerability in H323 protocol. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could craft malformed packets and send the packets to the affected products. Due to insufficient validation of packets, which could be exploited to cause process crash.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17255 affects a wide range of Huawei network equipment including routers, firewalls, and security appliances across multiple product lines and software versions. This issue stems from a null pointer dereference flaw within the H323 protocol implementation, which is commonly used for voice and video communication over IP networks. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the system's packet validation mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit the flaw through crafted malformed H323 packets. The affected devices are particularly vulnerable because they fail to properly validate incoming H323 protocol data, leading to potential system instability and denial of service conditions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference issues, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks. The flaw exists in various Huawei products including AR series routers, USG firewalls, and security modules, indicating a widespread impact across the vendor's portfolio.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an unauthenticated remote attacker sends specially crafted H323 packets to the affected devices. These malformed packets trigger a null pointer dereference condition within the protocol handling code, causing the targeted process to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The root cause lies in the insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify the integrity of H323 protocol data before processing. When the system attempts to dereference a null pointer during packet processing, it results in an immediate system crash or service disruption. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication credentials, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the affected devices. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can lead to complete system unavailability, potentially affecting critical network infrastructure and communication services.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17255 is significant for organizations relying on Huawei network equipment, as the vulnerability can lead to substantial service disruptions and potential business continuity issues. Network administrators may experience unexpected downtime across their infrastructure, particularly in environments where H323 protocol is actively used for voice and video communications. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed network services. Additionally, the widespread nature of affected products means that multiple network segments could be simultaneously compromised, potentially leading to cascading failures. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation reduces the barrier for attackers and increases the likelihood of successful attacks, particularly in environments where proper network segmentation is not implemented. This vulnerability essentially creates an entry point for attackers to cause denial of service conditions that can severely impact network operations and communication services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17255 should focus on immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by Huawei. Organizations must prioritize applying patches to all affected devices across their network infrastructure, ensuring that the software versions are updated to versions that contain fixes for the null pointer dereference issue. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, particularly for those that do not require H323 protocol functionality. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns or potential exploitation attempts, including anomalous H323 packet flows that could indicate malicious activity. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed H323 traffic patterns. In cases where H323 protocol services are not essential for operations, organizations should consider disabling these services entirely to eliminate the attack surface. Regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched devices and ensure comprehensive protection across the entire network infrastructure.